Lead Automation & Controls Engineer - Capital Projects

VIAVI Solutions

Santa Rosa (CA)

On-site

USD 134,000 - 250,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

VIAVI Solutions manufactures advanced optical thin-film and pigment coating products in a 24/7 Santa Rosa, CA, operation. This Controls Engineer role balances keeping automation running and leading capital projects — machine installations, system upgrades, and next-generation platforms.

The position involves designing, developing, and maintaining PLC/HMI systems, configuring drives, and integrating with existing infrastructure, with opportunities for leadership and cross-functional collaboration

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Automation, or equivalent experience.
5+ years in industrial controls/automation in a manufacturing environment.
PLC programming: Siemens Step 7 / TIA Portal or Mitsubishi GX Developer.
Experience supporting automation in 24/7 or continuous production environments.
Programming with Visual Studio, C#.
End-to-end ownership of capital project automation scope.
HMI development, industrial networking, SQL databases, source code management.
Strong troubleshooting skills; ability to read electrical schematics and P&IDs.
Excellent communication skills; occasional international travel required.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain PLC and HMI systems for manufacturing equipment.
Commission new automation hardware and software; integrate with existing infrastructure.
Configure and commission motor drives, motion systems, and closed-loop control systems.
Design and administer SQL databases; manage industrial networks (Profibus, Ethernet/IP, OPC).
Maintain source control, documentation, and change records for all control system work.
Lead or contribute to capital project scoping, scheduling, and execution.
Mentor junior engineers; collaborate across Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams.
Demonstrate communication and leadership skills aligned with future management growth.